Labeling mechanism



Dec. 1, 1942. w, you HQFE 2,303,776

LABELING MECHANISM Filed June 3, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l A INVENTOR.

1 2 GEORGE I V. vo/vfi oF Dec. 1, 1942.

G. w. vo N HOFE LABELING MECHANISM 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 Filed June 3. 194;

INVENTOR. $505 5 I44 ra/v //0 FE BY AV-To R NE K Patented Dec. 1, 1942OFFICE LABELING MECHANISM George W. von Hofe, Bound Brook, N. J assignorto New Jersey Machine Corporation, Hoboken, N. J a. corporation of NewJersey j Application June 3, 1941, Serial No. 396,401

. 10 Claims. ((11. 216-57) The invention relates to labeling machinesand has for its object to provide such machines with a' labelingmechanism constructed and operating in a novel manner to apply labels ortheir equivalent to moving articles Without interference with themovement thereof.

The invention contemplates further the provision of a novel labelingmechanism arranged to apply labels or their equivalent to traveling websof materials at spaced intervals without arresting the travel of saidwebs.

Other objects will appear from the description hereinafter and thefeatures of novelty will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an example of theinvention without definanism is of the type shown 'in my United StatesPatent No. 2,227,816, of January '7, 1941, and includes an uprightsupporting frame H] on which a suitable container or hopper II ismounted in position for proper co-operation with the associated elementsof the machine. The container or hopper ll contains a supply of labelsl2 in the form of an upright supply stack from the upper end of whichthe terminal labels are successively removed for application to thearticles for which said labels are intended. Suitable provision is made,in any customary manner, for periodically restoring the upper end of thestack of labels l2 to a predetermined level in proper operative relationto the co-operating elements of the machine. whereby this periodicaladjustment is effected does not per se constitute a novel feature of thelabeling machine, and may for instance be of the type shown in my patenthereinbefore mentioned, and in the same way may include a feeler M andassociated elements operating to control the aforesaid elevatingmechanism.

In the labeling machine as illustrated, the means whereby individuallabels 12 are succes- The elevating mechanism [3 therefrom to the pointof application for application to the elements to be labeled, is of thesuction operated type, and per se may be of any suitable construction.As shown, the label transe ferring means consists of a carriage l5slidably mounted upon a horizontal guide rail [6 supported on the frameID in any convenient manner. The carriage i5 is slidably reciprocated inthe rail It, for instance, by means of an arm 11 fixed upon a shaft l8and having its free end pivotally connected with-a coupling rod l9 whichin turn is yieldingly and pivotally connected at 20 with a lug 2iforming art of or fixed upon the carriage l5 as shown in Fig. 1.

In the operation of the machine, the carriage I5 is reciprocated on therail It by rocking the shaft l8 which swings the lever IT to alternatelypush and pull the carriage l5 lengthwise of the rail IS. The mechanismwhereby said shaft I8 is rocked may be the same as in my previouslymentioned patent and needs no further description herein as per se itforms no part of the instant invention.

The carriage l5 serves as a support for a member 22 which is verticallyslidable on said carriage I5 and at its lower end carries a suction head23. The specific construction of the latter may be of any conventionaltype, the suction head 23 in any event being connected with a source ofsuction, for instance, by means of a suitable tube 24. Throughout themajor portion of the reciprocation of the carriage IS the member 22' andwith it the suction head 23 is held against downward vertical movementby means of a roller 25 which 7 travels lengthwise of a fixed rail 26,the latter at predetermined points being recessed to permit downwardvertical movement of the member 22 and suction head 23 in the sameway'as inm y prior patent referred to above. This enables the suctionhead 23 to be operated to remove terminal labels [2 from the upper endof the supply stack and to deposit said labels in label applyingposition at the point of application as will be hereinafter more fullyset forth. The aforesaid vertical movements of the member 22 and suctionhead 23 may be effected by means of any suitable mechanismsuch as forinstance shown and described in my previously mentioned patent.

In the labeling machine illustrated in the drawings, the labels l2picked up successively by the suction head 23 from the supply stack areprovided with a coating of adhesive on one surface during the transferof said labels l2 from the supply stack to the point of application. Forthis sively removed from the stack and transferred 55 Purpose each labelsubsequent to its removal from the supply stack by the suction head 23is carried thereby into progressive tangential adhesive receivingrelation with the adhesive applying roll 21 of the adhesive applyingmeans 28 suitably mounted in proper position in the machine as shown forinstance in Fig. 1. The adhesive applying means may be of any suitableconstruction and may correspond to that of my previously mentionedpatent and accordingly requires no further description as per se it doesnot constitute a novel feature of the instant labeling machine.

The novel mechanism embodied in the instant labeling machine includessupporting means located at the point of application on which thesuccessive labels l2 are temporarily deposited in proper applyingrelation to the moving article to which said labels are to be applied.In the illustrated example this supporting means comprises supportingmembers or bars 29 extending in horizontal directions and spaced apartto a predetermined extent dependent upon the dimensions of the labels [2which are being applied by the .mechanism; the arrangement is such. thatthe labels l2 will span the space between the members 29 with theopposite ends of said labels in temporary adhesive connection with saidmembers after the deposit of said labels l2 thereon by the suction head23 has taken place. The members 29 are carried by a supporting bar 30 ofsuitable type which may be mounted in the machine in any convenientmanner as by means of a bracket 3| as illustrated more or lessdiagrammatically in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

A plunger or slide 32 is slidably mounted in a vertical guide 33suitably supported in the machine in proper operative relation to thelabel applying point and to the supporting members 29. The plunger orslide 32 may be vertically actuated in the guide 33 in any convenientmanner as by means of a lever 34 loosely mounted on the shaft [8. andpivotally connected with the plunger or slide 32 in any convenientmanner as by being provided with a rounded front end 35 projecting intoa slot formed in the plunger or slide 32. The lever 34 may be rocked onthe shaft by mechanism similar to that shown in my patent referred tohereinbefore and including an operating member 36 pivotally andadjustably connected at 31 with the lever 34 and actuated in theintended manner by means of mechanism similar to the means whereby thelever which actuates the pressure plunger in my previously mentionedpatent is operated. The plunger or slide 32 at its lower end carriesmeans for removing the labels I2 from the supporting members 29 andapplying them to the articles for which they are intended. As the novellabeling mechanism is designed primarily for applying labels to movingarticles, the aforesaid applying means is constructed to properlyco-operate with said moving articles in the application of the labels l2thereto. In the specific form illustrated in the drawings, the applyingmeans comprises an endless belt 38 of suitable material and dimensiontransversely in dependence upon the dimensions of the labels l2 withwhich said belt 38 is designed to operate. The belt 38 is carried bypulleys 39 and 40 rotatably mounted in spaced relation on a lever 4|pivoted at 42 on a transverse projection forming part of the slide orplunger 32 as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings; in the preferredarrangement the pivot 42 of the lever 4| is in registry with the axis ofthe pulley 49. An arm 43 extends at an upward inclination from the lever41 preferably as an integral part thereof and is provided at its freeend with an apertured projection 44 with which one end of a spring 45 isconnected; the other end of said spring is attached at 46 to the slideor plunger 32. The arm 43 preferably is further provided with a stopshoulder 41 arranged to co-operate with a suitable stop 48 on the slideor plunger 32 to arrest the pivotal movements of the arm 43 and lever 4|in one direction for the purpose to be more fully set forth hereinafter.The stop 48 is illustrated in the form of a stop 'screw adjustablymounted in a lug 49 carried by the slide or plunger 32 and fixed in anadjusted position for instance by means of a lock nut 59. Thearrangement is such that the belt 38 and its associated elements arelocated above and in vertical registry with the space between the labelsupporting members 29 as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

In the illustrated example the labeling mechanism is shOWn in a formdesigned primarily for applying labels at spaced intervals to travellingwebs of material as exemplified for instance by travelling lengths oflinoleum or the like 5|. The run of the web of linoleum. 5| or othermaterial which is to receive the labels in such case travels over asuitable support 52 in label receiving relation to the label supportingmeans or specifically the label supporting means 29, as illustrated inFig. 2, it being understood that the web of linoleum 5! or itsequivalent may be operated in a manner to travel over the support 52 byan suitable and conventional means. The machine further may includemeans for completing the application of the labels which means may be ofany suitable nature and is illustrated in the form of a pressure roller53 carried by a shaft '54 rotatably mounted in bearing blocks 55 androtatably operated by means of a belt 56' and co-operating pulley 51mounted on the shaft54. The bearing blocks '55 are slidably mounted inupright bearing guides 58 suitably fixed in place, for instance, uponthe support 52. A yielding pressure is developed on the roller 53 bymeans 7 of springs 59 which'bear with one end against the bearing blocks55 and with their other ends engage disks 60 adjustably mounted onsaida'upright bearing guides 58 by means of screws 6| fixed againstunintentional rotation'by means of lock' nuts 52.

In practice, during an operative period -of. the machine, the web 5| oflinolelun or other material will be progressively and uninterruptedlyadvanced on the support 52 at a predetermined speed of travel andsuccessive terminal labels l2 will be removed from the supply stack-bythe suction head 23 and deposited upon the supporting members or bars 29with the opposite end portions of said labels 12 in temporary adhesivecontact with said members 29 as illustrated in Fig. 4.

The arrangement is such that-the web 51 will pass beneath and in labelreceiving proximity to the supporting members 29 and the labels l'lthereon as shown in Fig; 2. It will be understood that the slide orplunger 32 and the belt 38' and associated elements carried by saidslide 'or plunger occupy a raised position during the operation ofdepositing a, label I 2 upon the supporting members 29 by the suction'head23 or its equivalent. After a label l2 has been deposited on thesuporting members 29, the machine Will operate to return the suctionhead and its co-operating elements back towardthe supply stack of labels2 ready for the next operative cycle. In proper operative synchronismthe lever 34 will be rocked downwardly to correspondingly move the slideor plunger 32 downwardly in the guide 33. At this stage the stop 41 ofthe arm 43 will be held in contact with the stop screw 48 of the slideor plunger 32 by the action of the spring 45 so that the lever 4| andbelt 38 will occupy a downwardly inclined position as the slide orplunger 32 descends in the guide 33. This downward movement of the slideor plunger 32 will finally bring that part of the belt 38 which travelsover the pulley 39 into contact with the upper surface of the travellingweb of linoleum or other material. As the downward movement of the partscontinues the lever 4| and belt 33 will be rocked on the pivot 42against the tension of the spring 45 and will bring the belt 38 intoengagement with the edge of the label |2 supported on the members 29. Asthis occurs, the frictional engagement between the belt 38 and web 5|will gradually cause the belt 38 to travel on the pulleys 39 and 40 at aspeed corresponding to the speed of travel of the web 3|. It will benoted, as shown in Fig. 2, that the lower run of the belt 38 vat thisstage is in engagement under the tension of the spring 45, with theouter edge of the label |2 located at the outer ends of the supportingmembers 29. As a result of this, the lower run of the belt 38 whichtravels in the same direction as the advancing web 5| will withdraw thelabel l2 from the supporting members 29 as the speed of the belt 38coincides with the speed of travel of the web 5|. This withdrawal of thelabel l2 from the supporting members 29 by the belt 38 is possiblebecause the adhesivewhereby the opposite ends of the label |2 aretemporarily secured upon the suporting members 29, is still tacky andhas not yet had time to become set.

As the label I2 is thus progressively withdrawn from the supportingmembers 29, said label will be carried along by the belt 38 to finallyhave its adhesive coated surface brought into engagement with thetravelling web 5|. As the operations continue the label I2 will passbetween the belt 38 and the web 5| and will be pressed into engagementtherewith by the action of the spring 45 so that said label l2 will beadhesively applied to the surface of the web 5|. The application of thelabel |2 to the web 5| will be completed as the applied label I2 iscarried by the Web 5| beneath the pressure roller 53 or its equivalent;in some cases, this final pressure to complete the application of thelabel may be omitted. After a label l2 has been completely withdrawnfrom the supporting members 29 and applied to the web 5| by the belt 38,the lever 34 will be rocked in an upward direction in proper timing, tocorrespondingly raise the slide or plunger 32 in the guide 33. As thisoccurs, the pulley 48 and the adjacent sections of the belt 38 will moveupwardly away from the supporting members 29 and the spring 45 willprogressively rock the arm 43 and lever 4| on the pivot 42 until thestop 41 engages the stop screw 48 to thereby arrest said pivotalmovement. The position of the parts are thereby fixed as the elevationof the slide or plunger 32 and associated elements continue until thisfinal upward position has been reached whereupon the cycle of operationsdescribed above is repeated. As a result successive labels |2 will beapplied and afiixed to the web 5| at spaced intervals determined by thespeed of travel of the web 5| or its equivalent and the operativeadjustment and timing of the machine and the applying mechanism.

In addition to functioning as mechanism for applying labels at spacedintervals to travelling webs of material, the mechanism may be used withequal efiiciency for applying labels to articles such as packages ofmerchandise moving over a given path in spaced relation and reaching theapplication point at successive intervals. The mechanism is simple inconstructon and emcient in operation and requires no particularly expertsupervision and in addition may, if desired, be readily incorporated inexisting labeling machines.

Various changes in the specific forms shown and described may be madewithin the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

I claim:

1. In a labeling machine for applying labels to moving articles,stationary supporting means for supporting labels in a stationaryapplying position at the point of application, a labeling mech-- anismincluding an applying member arranged to move in correspondingdirectionand at corresponding speed with said articles for removing said labelsfrom said supporting means and applying said labels to said articleswithout interruption of the movement thereof.

2. In a labeling machine for applying labels to traveling webs ofmaterial at spaced intervals, a movable applying member normally out ofcon- ,tact with the movable web, and means for periodically shiftingsaid applying member into contact with said traveling web of materialwhereby said applying member is operated in corresponding direction andat corresponding speed with said web of material to apply labels theretoat spaced intervals.

3. In a labeling machine for applying labels to moving articles,supporting means for supporting a label in a stationary applyingposition at the point of application, and a labeling mechanism includingan applying member arranged to move in corresponding direction and atcorresponding speed with a moving article for removing said label fromsaid supporting means and applying: said label to said article withoutinterruption of v 65 supporting a label in applying position at thepoint of application, a movable carrier, a movable applying membermounted on said carrier, andmeans for adjusting said carrier to shiftsaid applying member into contact with a traveling web of materialwhereby said applying member is operated in speed synchronism with saidtraveling web for applying a label thereto without interruption of thetravel of saidweb.

6. In a labeling machine for applying labels at spaced intervals totraveling webs of material, supporting members located in spacedrelation to each other for supporting individual labels in applyingrelationto a traveling web of material, a movable slide mounted inoperative relation to said supporting members, a movable applying membercarried by said slide, and means for periodically operating said slideto shift said movable applying member into operative relation to thetraveling web and to the label on said supporting members whereby saidlabel is removed from the latter and applied to said web of material atspaced intervals without interruption of the travel thereof.

'7. In a labeling machine for applying labels at spaced intervals totraveling webs of material, supporting members located in spacedrelation to each other for supporting individual labels in ap plyingrelation to a traveling web of material, a movable slide mounted inoperative relation to said supporting members, an endless applyingmember movably carried by said slide, and means for periodicallyoperating said slide to shift said applying member into contact withsaid traveling web and with the label on said supporting members wherebythe endless applying member is operated in speed synchronism with saidtraveling web to remove the labels from said supporting members andapplied to said web of material at spaced intervals without interruptionof the travel thereof.

8. In a labeling machine for adhesively applying labels to travelingwebs of material at spaced intervals, a container for a supply oflabels, supporting members in spaced relation to each other at thelabeling point, adhesive applying means between said container and saidlabeling point, means for transferring labels from said supply anddepositing said labels on said supporting members ,in temporary adhesiveconnection therewith, a vertically operable slide in operative relationto said supporting members, a movable endless label applying beltcarried by said slide, and means for periodically operating said slideto shift said applying belt into engagement with the supported label andwith the, travelling web whereby the latter operates said belt towithdraw the labels from said supporting members and apply said label tothe Web at spaced intervals without interruption of the travel of saidweb of material.

,9. In a labeling machine, a labeling mechanism for applying labels tomoving articles comprising an applying member normally occupying aninoperative label applying position relatively to a moving article andmovable into label applying relation therewith and operating in the samedirection and at the same speed as said moving article to apply a labelthereto without interruption of the movement of said article.

10. In a labeling machine, a labeling mecha- I nism for applying labelsto moving articles comprising a movable slide, a lever pivotally mountedon said .slide, pulleys loosely mounted on said lever, an endless labelapplying belt on said p111- leys, an arm connected with said lever, aspring acting on said arm "to press said applying belt into engagementwith said articles for applying labels thereto without interruption ofthe movement of said articles, and co-operating stops on the slide andarm respectively for maintaining the lever and associated belt in anormal inoperative position on said slide.

GEORGE W. VON HOFE.

